Administrative Services

Violent or Criminal Behavior (Including Active Shooter)

General Information

  1. Be alert to suspicious situations or people and report to OPS 309-298-1949.
  2. If you are a victim or witness to any on-campus violation of the law, such as assault, robberies, or theft, contact OPS.
  3. Notify OPS as soon as possible and provide the following information:
    1. Nature of incident
    2. Location of incident
    3. Description of person involved
    4. Description of property involved

Active Shooter

Response to an active shooter is one of the most dynamic situations that a campus community will ever face. It is impossible to set forth the exact procedures that should be followed in every situation as every situation is different. It will result in immediate deployment of law enforcement resources to stop the shooting and protect lives and mitigate harm to innocent victims. Prior to the arrival of OPS, Macomb Police, McDonough County Sheriff's Office, Illinois State Police and surrounding agencies, how to respond will be dictated by particular circumstances of the encounter and the specifics of the situation. During an active shooter situation, remain as calm as possible and utilize the suggestive actions to prepare a strategy for survival. Exercise good judgment in applying these guidelines to the specific incident. View the Active Shooter Videos on this site to raise your level of preparedness in the event of an active shooter.

Active Shooter-Outside of Building
  1. If a gunman is firing a weapon on or near campus, get out of the immediate area.
  2. Go to a room that can be locked or barricaded by using available material. Find cover and concealment if possible to do so.
  3. Secure your immediate area by closing windows, blinds, turn off lights, computers and silence cell phones.
  4. If the shooter is outside, cover windows so no one is visible from outside the room.
  5. Try to remain calm and keep room occupants quiet and out of site.
  6. Quietly talk about what your plan is and as a group what you intend to do.
  7. Take adequate cover and protection (i.e., concrete walls, thick desks, filing cabinets, etc.) from stray bullets.
  8. When you can safely call OPS without drawing attention to yourself from the shooter, call OPS at 309-298-1949 or call 911. Be patient, the 911 system most likely will be overwhelmed by callers.
  9. When you have reached OPS, describe the situation and give your name and location; be cautious to not speak so loudly to give you position away to a shooter who may be nearby. Remain in place until OPS arrives and gives the all clear.
  10. Unfamiliar voices may be the shooter attempting to lure victims from their safe locations; do not respond to voice commands until you can verify with certainty that they are being issued by a police officer.
Active Shooter-Inside Building
  1. If possible, secure the room you are in by either locking and/or barricading the door using available material. Follow the procedures described above.
  2. If you cannot secure the room, determine if there is a nearby location that can be secured that you can reach safely. If you can safely exit the building, remember it is safest to not be in the same area as the shooter.
  3. If possible, avoid places that might trap or restrict your options of movement.
Active Shooter-Inside Room
  1. If an active shooter enters your office or classroom, there are no set procedures. The decision to flee or seek shelter inside the room can only be made by you and is dependent upon your particular circumstances.
  2. Try to remain calm; being prepared will aid you in decision making.
  3. If you can do so safely, call 911 and alert police to the shooter's location.
  4. If you can't speak, leave the line open so that the dispatcher can hear what is taking place. Usually the location of the caller can be determined without speaking. From a cell phone, 911 can only identify the building, not your location within a building.
  5. If there is absolutely no opportunity of escape or concealment and the shooter is not actively firing on victims it might be possible to negotiate with the shooter.
  6. If the shooter has fired/or is firing on victims you are faced with a life or death situation and only you can consider your next course of action.
Leaving a Secure Room or Area
  1. Consider all risks before you consider leaving a secure room or area.
  2. Remember a shooter will most likely not stop until engaged by an outside force or until taking his or her own life.
  3. Attempts to rescue people should only be made if it can be accomplished without further endangering those inside a secured area.
  4. If OPS or responding officers enter your room, keep your hands visible, stay in place and do not rush up to them, yell or point as they can not determine a victim from the active shooter immediately.